Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together.

Yesterday I chaired meetings of the Cabinet committees on European affairs, economic recovery and jobs, climate change and the green economy, mortgage arrears and Irish and the Gaeltacht.

The last meeting of the Cabinet committee on economic infrastructure was held on 25 October and the committee on social policy last met on 1 October. The Cabinet committee on public service reform last met on 11 October. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 1 October and this was the sixth time it has met this year. It is scheduled to meet every two months but can meet more often as required. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and jobs is expected to meet again in December. The Cabinet committee on mortgage arrears has met on eight occasions since its establishment in March 2012. It met on 14 March, 3 April, 24 April, 15 May, 5 June, 25 June, 19 July and 5 November. No date has been scheduled as yet for the next meeting. The Cabinet committee on climate change and the green economy has met on four occasions. In 2011, it met on 30 June and 20 December and in 2012 on 2 May and most recently yesterday, 5 November. I have chaired all four meetings and on each occasion have been accompanied by a senior official from my Department.

The Economic Management Council has met 32 times so far this year, most recently on 24 October and the next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 7 November. The Government has been working closely with the Irish banks to ensure that the banking sector supports economic recovery. As part of this ongoing process the members of the Economic Management Council last met with the banks on 26 June. I expect that members of the council will meet with the banks again later in the year.

The Economic Management Council has been established with the status of a Cabinet committee and has four members. They are the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.

A second Secretary General has been appointed in my Department whose responsibilities include managing support for the council and who reports to the Tánaiste on matters relating to the council. Additional support for the council is provided from within the existing resources of my Department, working in close conjunction with staff from the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Foreign Affairs and Trade. Advisers to each of the members of the council attend meetings on a regular basis in line with precedent.

The council's role is to manage the Government's programme in respect of economic planning and budgetary matters; the economic recovery programme, including the representation of Ireland internationally in negotiations with the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund troika; the integration of the work of Government Departments and agencies in these matters; and the co-ordination of banking policy.

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